Florida toll road

[Miss M.K.J.]

O.k. we are going to Disney in September. We will be leaving North Ga. around 5 in the afternoon. We are planning on driving until we just decide to stop. We did this years ago and stopped in Tifton Ga. to spend the night. I would like to make it futher into Fl this time. I hope to be only like an hour away from Disney when we stop. My question is where is a good stopping place along the way to spend the night? Also do you have to go on the toll road or is there a quicker way to go? I think I read somewhere that there was a way to get around the tolls. Thanks for any help on this. I hope I made sense with this question.

 

[AUPr8Hd]

If you're looking to be about an hour out from Disney, then Ocala would work. As far as the toll roads, not much of a choice. Although, you could technically go I75. But, this would only add time to your trip. The few $$ the toll roads cost is more than worth it.

 

[seashoreCM]

Coming down from northern Georgia on I-75 there are ways to get around the tolls past Ocala but the alternate ways are not quicker.

Quickest way is to get off I-75 onto Florida's Turnpike, then onto Rte 429 south signed Tampa and you will soon will see the Disney World signs (Hartzog Rd. exit).

 

[AUPr8Hd]

One other thing since you're going in September. Check hotel availability before leaving if you are going down on Friday or Saturday. If UF has a home game, hotels along 75 will book up from about Lake City (?) to south of Gainesville.

This happened to us several years ago and we ended up driving all the way into Orlando.

 

[MattM]

Good point, AUPR. I would especially be careful of the weekend of the 19th, which is the Florida/Tennessee game. If not, Ocala would be a good choice. There is a Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Hampton Inn that I know of for sure.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I agree that Ocala is about an hour away from Disney. But if you only made it as far as Tifton the last time you left so late in the day, i doubt you'll make it all the way to Ocala. Gainesville is about 2 hours out and Lake City about 3 hours out. All 3 cities have a good selection of the chain motels.

As for the toll roads, there is no better route from where you are coming from and not worth saving a few dollars to go the back roads. If you take the Turnpike from I-75 to I-4, the tolls add up to $3.00 one way. If you take the Turnpike to TOLL 429 and enter Disney via Western Way, the tolls add up to $3.75 one way. The route to take depends on where you're headed first upon arrival.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Pappa Bear]

Good point, AUPR. I would especially be careful of the weekend of the 19th, which is the Florida/Tennessee game. If not, Ocala would be a good choice. There is a Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and Hampton Inn that I know of for sure.

THANKS for this reminder as we will be traveling on the 19th and had planned to find a room whenever we got tired of driving. I have now booked in Lake City (at a reasonable rate) as that is as far as we want to travel that day. I never thought to check sports schedules.

For anyone else traveling that weekend, it might be best to book ahead as this game draws a lot of fans from regardless of where it is played.